Sun EZ Tandem Recumbent Bicycle

The Sun recumbent EZ Tandem CX & EZ Tandem AX tandems are designed by Gardner Martin of Easy Racers fame. Manufactured in Taiwan, they are the least expensive recumbents tandems I know of. Certainly built for comfort and not speed or hill climbing they are fine for many couples with moderate goals.

Most first time recumbent riders find them very comfortable and easy to get used to. Most riders, especially large riders, like the large Sun seat base. The Sun seat quickly adjusts without tools for riders about 5′ to 6′ or 6’4″. The seat back recline is also pretty easy to adjust. The seat base can adjust forward and back a bit relative to the seat back. Larger riders tend to like it farther forward, smaller riders like it farther back. This adjustment requires an Allen wrench.

Both Sun recumbent tandems have OSS handlebars that look a bit like the bars on a Harley chopper. The bars can be adjusted with a 6 mm Allen wrench to accommodate different riders sizes and preferences. The handlebars need to be kept clamped tightly. If you pull on the handlebars when climbing a hill they will move. Doing this repeatedly will cause potentially damaging wear.

The Sun recumbent tandems are very long, with a 7’7” wheelbase. This makes them stable, un-maneuverable and awkward to transport. “U” turns can be done but not as easily as on the Longbikes Eliminator recumbent tandem or RANS Screamer recumbent tandem. Their length also gives them high-speed stability. They are not maneuverable at high speed. A bit like a 1972 Cadillac…

The easy way to transport an extra long recumbent tandem like the Sun EZ-Tandem on your car is the Atoc Tandem Topper. Most tandem racks do not work for tandems with a wheelbase over 85” like the Sun tandem; Ryan Duplex or Longbikes Gulf Stream but the Tandem Topper will. The Topper is available in sizes even longer than the EZ-Tandem requires for triplet tandems built for three riders! The Tandem Topper also works with a tandem or single bike making it more versatile than other car roof racks.

Another feature that makes the Tandem Topper exceptional is its pivoting fork mount which allows one person loading. You pivot the Topper’s fork mount, remove your tandem’s front wheel; attach the fork to the fork mount and then lift the rear wheel to the roof of your vehicle. Other tandem racks require lifting the whole tandem at once which usually requires two people and with some vehicles, they both need to be tall.

A Sun EZ-Tandem can be carried on some rear racks if you have ingenuity and nerves. To decrease the bike’s length to under 8 feet you remove both wheels and turn the fork backward. Many rear racks will hold a Sun EZ-Tandem but the bike will be wider than your car, drive carefully! This is not ideal but if you are careful it will work to get one home from the shop.

The Sun tandems are not performance bikes; the EZ-Tandem CX weight is listed at 59 LB. The Sun EZ-Tandem AX should weigh 51 LB when it becomes available. They sure are comfy cruisers; many riders find them almost as comfortable as the RANS Screamer tandems. Sun tandems make great first recumbent tandems for riders who value comfort over performance and will not be climbing significant hills.

We have an assortment of reasonably priced accessories to fit the Sun bikes: fenders, a rear luggage rack, under-seat pannier rack, seat back bag, kickstands handlebar bags, rear view mirrors, and speedometers.

Sun EZ Tandem CX and AX tandem recumbent bike specifications:

Sun EZ Tandem CX

• Frame: Cro-Mo Tig Welded
• Wheel Base: 91″ (231cm)
• Overall Length: 113″ (287cm)
• Seat Height: 28″ (71cm)
• Fork: Full Cro-Mo
• BB: Sealed Cartridge Bearing 68mm
• Crank: Alloy Tandem 170×52-42-30
• F. Derailleur: Shimano FD-R443 Flat Bar
• R. Derailleur: Shimano RD-MC510 Deore
• Shifter: Sram Verio
• Freewheel: Shimano CS-HG50 11-34 9 Speed
• Pedals: Wellgo LU-982
• Brake Front: Shimano BR-M515 Deore Disc
• Brake Rear: Shimano BR-M515 Deore Disc
• Brake Levers: Tektro 392A Alloy
• Headset: 1-1/8” Aluminum
• Handlebar Front: Alloy w/2 Bottle Braze-ons
• Handlebar Rear: Alloy Under Seat w/Alloy Bar Ends
• Stem: Alloy 240mm Quill w/60mm Ahead Stem
• Hub Front: American Classic Disc
• Hub Rear: American Classic Cassette Disc
• Rim Front: 20×1.50 Sun SL-1 Single Track 36H
• Rim Rear: 26×1.50 Sun SL-1 Single Track 48H
• Spokes: Frt 13g S.S. Black, Rear 13/14g SS Black
• Tire Front: 20×1.50 Kenda Kwest 100psi
• Tire Rear: 26×1.50 Kenda Kwest 100psi
• Saddle: Contoured Foam w/Lycra Type Cover
• Seat Slide: Alloy
• Seat Back Front: Alloy Cool Back Adjustable w/2 Bottle Braze-Ons
• Seat Back Rear: Alloy Cool Back Adjustable
• Wt 59 lbs

Sun EZ Tandem AX

• Frame: 7005 Tig Welded Aluminum
• Wheel Base: 91″ (231cm)
• Overall Length: 113″ (287cm)
• Seat Height: 28″ (71cm)
• Fork: Full Cro-Mo
• BB: Sealed Cartridge Bearing 68mm
• Crank: Alloy Tandem IPS (Independent Pedaling System) 170×52-42-30
• F. Derailleur: Shimano FD-R443
• R. Derailleur: Sram X9
• Shifter: Sram X9
• Freewheel: Sram PG-950 11-34 9sp
• Pedals: Wellgo LU-812A
• Brake Front: Avid Mech Disc 160mm
• Brake Rear: Avid Mech Disc 203mm
• Brake Levers: Avid SD-7
• Headset: 1-1/8” Aluminum
• Handlebar Front: Alloy w/2 Bottle Braze-ons
• Handlebar Rear: Alloy Under Seat w/Alloy Bar Ends
• Stem: Alloy 240mm Quill w/60mm Ahead Stem
• Hub Front: American Classic Disc
• Hub Rear: American Classic Cassette Disc
• Rim Front: 20×1.50 Sun SL-1 Single Track 36H
• Rim Rear: 26×1.50 Sun SL-1 Single Track 48H
• Spokes: Frt 13g S.S. Black, Rear 13/14g SS Black
• Tire Front: 20×1.50 Kenda Kwest 100psi
• Tire Rear: 26×1.50 Kenda Kwest 100psi
• Saddle: Contoured Foam w/Lycra Type Cover
• Seat Slide: Alloy
• Seat Back Front: Alloy Cool Back Adjustable w/2 Bottle Braze-Ons
• Seat Back Rear: Alloy Cool Back Adjustable
• Wt 51 lbs

June and I finished the Tour for Tucson’s Children, a 27-mile bike ride, then rode home. Don’t think we can get off the bike! Did the ride just under 2 and a half hours. And we weren’t the last to finish!
Happy 4th of July!

As always we recommend extensive test riding if possible. We encourage you to support dealers who offer you test rides if there is one in your area.

We also have Sun Recumbent Bike Accessories and Parts

Sun Bicycles Recumbent Owner’s Manuals

Sun 2008 to Date Owner’s Manual – For Sun Bicycles 2008 models to date

Sun 2007 & Earlier Owner’s Manual – For Sun EZ Series 2007 and Older